Omar Bennett
Federalist No. 68 is the 68th essay of The Federalist Papers, published on March 12, 1788, and was probably written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym Publius. It is titled The Mode of Electing the President and describes a perspective on the process of selecting the chief executive of the United States. The essay sought to convince the people of New York of the merits of the proposed constitution, specifically the method of electing the president. It is the only essay in a series of 11 that discusses the method of selecting the president and is part of a broader analysis of the presidency by Hamilton. Federalist No. 68 highlights the unique presidential election process outlined in the Constitution, including the role of the Electoral College, and argues that it ensures the president is a capable and qualified individual.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Federalist Papers were written and published to | Urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution |
| Date of publishing | March 12, 1788 |
| Author | Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym "Publius" |
| Number of Essays | 68 |
| Title of the essay | "The Mode of Electing the President" |
| Objective of the essay | To convince the people of New York of the merits of the proposed constitution |
| Subject of the essay | The process of selecting the chief executive of the United States |
| Election process | The right of making it is given to men chosen by the people for a special purpose and at a particular conjuncture |
| The role of the Vice-President | To occasionally become a substitute for the President, in the supreme executive magistracy |
| The role of the Lieutenant-Governor | To preside in the Senate and be the constitutional substitute for the Governor |
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What You'll Learn
The Federalist Papers' purpose
The Federalist Papers were written and published to encourage New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in 1787. The Federalist No. 68, titled "The Mode of Electing the President", is the 68th essay of The Federalist Papers, published on March 12, 1788. It was probably written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym "Publius", defending the Constitution's unique presidential election process. Hamilton affirms that the election of the President is "pretty well guarded", uniting all the advantages that were desired.
The essay discusses the process of selecting the chief executive of the United States, explaining that the right to elect the President is not given to any pre-established body, but to men chosen by the people for that specific purpose. It highlights the importance of the people's choice in electing the person to whom such an important trust would be confided. The essay also mentions the role of the Vice-President, who may occasionally act as a substitute for the President, and the Lieutenant-Governor, who is the constitutional substitute for the Governor.
Federalist No. 68 emphasizes the merits of the proposed Constitution, particularly in the selection of the President. It argues that the process of election ensures that the office of President will be filled by individuals with the necessary qualifications and abilities. The essay presents the idea that the President should have only a casting vote to secure the possibility of a definite resolution within the body.
The Federalist Papers, including No. 68, are significant as they provide insights into the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution. They explain in detail the specific provisions of the Constitution, such as the powers and limitations of the executive branch, and the method of selecting the President. The papers serve as a reference for interpreting the Constitution and understanding the perspectives of its designers.
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The election of the President
Federalist No. 68, titled "The Mode of Electing the President", is the 68th essay of The Federalist Papers, published on March 12, 1788. It was probably written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym "Publius", although this cannot be verified with certainty. The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787.
Federalist No. 68 describes a perspective on the process of selecting the chief executive of the United States. In this essay, Hamilton sought to convince the people of New York of the merits of the proposed constitution, specifically concerning the method of electing the president. The essay is the second in a series of 11 essays discussing the powers and limitations of the executive branch and is the only one to describe the method of selecting the president.
Hamilton defends the Constitution's unique presidential election process, arguing that it is "pretty well guarded" and unites all the desired advantages. He highlights the importance of the sense of the people operating in the choice of the person to whom such an important trust would be confided. This is achieved by committing the right of election to men chosen by the people for the special purpose and at the particular time of the election, rather than to any pre-established body.
Hamilton further emphasizes the benefits of the Electoral College system, which emerged due to the emergence of organized political parties. He acknowledges that while critics may view the Electoral College as an issue, it serves the purpose of selecting a president who can represent and serve a diverse nation. Additionally, Hamilton addresses the concern of potential corruption, arguing that the Constitution's election process creates a temporary body for selecting the President, independent of any pre-existing bodies that could be influenced beforehand.
Overall, Federalist No. 68 provides a detailed analysis of the process of electing the President, highlighting the advantages of the Electoral College system and addressing concerns about the role of the people in the election process.
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The role of the Electoral College
The Federalist Papers were written and published to persuade New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. Federalist No. 68, titled "The Mode of Electing the President", is the second in a series of 11 essays discussing the powers and limitations of the executive branch. It was probably written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym "Publius". In this essay, Hamilton defends the Constitution's unique presidential election process, which involves the Electoral College.
The Electoral College is a method of selecting the president that was designed by the Founding Fathers to ensure that the president would be a truly capable individual. It was intended to insulate the selection of the president from the "convulsions of the multitudes", thereby preventing mob rule, which was often the downfall of direct democracies. The Electoral College was meant to be a temporary body responsible for selecting the President, independent of any pre-existing bodies of men. This was important to ensure the separation of powers and checks and balances in the government.
Hamilton argued that the Electoral College was a superior method of selecting the president compared to direct election by the people or by Congress. He believed that the Electoral College would result in the selection of a president who was pre-eminent for ability and virtue. This is because the process of election would require the candidate to establish themselves "in the esteem and confidence of the whole Union, or of so considerable a portion of it".
The Founding Fathers never expected the emergence of organized political parties that would choose their candidates in competition with each other. However, by 1796, the Federalists and Republicans had rapidly organized, with leadership provided by Hamilton and Madison, rendering the Electoral College a minor adjunct of little importance. A flaw in the Electoral College was also exposed in 1800 when Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr received the same number of electoral votes, even though Jefferson was the intended candidate. This flaw was soon fixed by the 12th Amendment to the US Constitution.
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The Chief Magistrate
Federalist No. 68, titled "The Mode of Electing the President", is the 68th essay of The Federalist Papers, written and published to encourage New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. It was probably written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym "Publius". The essay describes the process of selecting the chief executive of the United States, also known as the "Chief Magistrate".
The essay highlights that the Constitution's election process creates a temporary body responsible for selecting the President, rather than relying on pre-existing bodies that could be influenced beforehand. This independence of the Executive is crucial for maintaining separation of powers and checks and balances in the government. Hamilton also addresses the role of the Vice-President, who may act as a substitute for the President, and the Lieutenant-Governor, who is the constitutional substitute for the Governor.
The Federalist No. 68 provides insights into the designers' intentions for the Electoral College, which was to insulate the selection of the President from the direct influence of the masses. They believed that this system would help guarantee a capable and qualified leader, addressing the potential for mob rule in direct democracies. However, it's important to note that the emergence of organized political parties and the development of flaws, such as the one exposed in 1800, have changed the perception and effectiveness of the Electoral College over time.
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The Constitution's election process
The Constitutions election process, as outlined in Federalist No. 68, is designed to ensure that the President of the United States is a capable and distinguished individual, endowed with the necessary qualifications and virtues. The process involves the selection of electors who, in turn, choose the President. This two-step process, known as the Electoral College, was designed to prevent mob rule and ensure stability.
Federalist No. 68, written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym "Publius," defends the Constitution's unique presidential election process. It highlights the importance of having a temporary body responsible for selecting the President, rather than giving that power to Congress or pre-existing bodies that could be influenced beforehand. This independence of the Executive is crucial for maintaining separation of powers and checks and balances in the government.
The Electoral College, as envisioned by Hamilton, James Madison, and other designers, was intended to insulate the selection of the President from the direct influence of the people. They argued that the process would result in the election of individuals with abilities and virtues, as recognized by the most enlightened and respectable citizens. The Electoral College was also seen as a way to address the concerns of the less populous slave states, through the Three-Fifths Compromise, which gave added power to the slave-holding states.
The Federalist No. 68 emphasizes that the election process should unite the sense of the people with the qualifications necessary for the important trust conferred upon the President. By committing the right of election to men chosen by the people for the special purpose, the process ensures that the President is dependent only on "the people themselves" for their "continuance in office."
The Constitutions election process, as outlined in Federalist No. 68, was designed to address the unique needs of the United States at the time. It sought to create a system that would result in capable and distinguished leaders while maintaining stability and addressing the concerns of different states. However, it is important to note that the emergence of organized political parties and changes in the educational curriculum have led to some criticisms and re-evaluations of the Electoral College system.
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Frequently asked questions
Federalist No. 68 is the 68th essay of The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton under the pseudonym "Publius". It was published on March 12, 1788, in the New York Packet.
Federalist No. 68 defends and explains the process of electing the President of the United States as outlined in the Constitution. It is the only essay in the Federalist Papers to do so.
The essay argues that the method of electing the President outlined in the Constitution is excellent as it unites several advantages. It ensures that the President will be a man of ability and virtue, chosen by the people, but not directly, thus avoiding the potential for mob rule.
Federalist No. 68 directly relates to the Constitution as it explains and justifies the process of electing the President as set out in the Constitution. It also highlights the importance of the separation of powers and checks and balances in the US government.
Federalist No. 68 was written to convince the people of New York to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. It was part of a series of essays discussing the powers and limitations of the executive branch.
